Aurora is a historic river town that is situated 35 miles west of Cincinnati, Ohio, located
in the Southeast corner of Indiana. Aurora was settled in the early 1800's and incorporated in
1845 and has strong historic connections to the Ohio River. Aurora is full of unique and
historic buildings that preserve its older rivercity characteristics.

Aurora Utilities Department

Utilities

Randy Turner - Utility Superintendent

110 Main St.

PO Box 120, Aurora, IN 47001

Phone: (812) 926-2745

Fax: (812) 926-1763

Night & Weekends: (812) 926-2557

Streets, Trash
Removal, & Recycling

Debbie Peters - Street Commissioner

PO Box 158

Phone: (812) 926-5403

Phone: (812) 926-2745

Hogan Creek
Watershed Project

Heather Wirth - Watershed Project Director

Email:
heather.wirth@nacdnet.net

10729 Randall Avenue, Suite 2

Aurora, IN 47001

Phone: (812) 926-2406 ext. 3

Fax: (812) 926-1777

City of Aurora Wellhead Protection Program

To help protect the groundwater and our water supply wells from potential contamination, the
City is currently implementing a Wellhead Protection Plan (WHP). The City of Aurora has
partnered with the Lawrenceburg-Manchester-Sparta (LMS) Conservancy District to implement the
WHP Program. The WHP Plan focuses on public awareness and education and spill prevention and
reporting. For your reference, a complete copy of the WHP Plan is available at the Aurora
Utilities Office located at 110 Main Street in Aurora, IN or the LMS Conservancy District
Office at 1406 Sunnyside Avenue in Aurora, IN. For more information or to join the local
planning team and assist with the implementation of the WHP Plan, contact the Aurora Utilities
Superintendent at 812-926-2745 or the LMS Conservancy District Superintendent at
812-926-2850.

Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

The Annual Drinking Water Quality Report is provided to water utility customers each year and
is designed to keep customers informed about the water utility and the quality of the drinking
water over the previous year. The Aurora Utilities’ goal is to provide the community with a safe
and dependable supply of drinking water.

Household Tips for Protecting Our Drinking Water Supply

Reduce the amount of fertilizers , pesticides , or other hazardous chemicals that you
use. Buy only what you need so that you don't have to dispose of leftovers. Read all the
labels and follow directions.

Properly plug and abandon water wells that are not longer in use.

If you have a septic system, have it serviced regularly.

Reduce the use of products that contain any of the following words on their labels:
caution, warning, danger, poison, flammable, volatile, caustic, or corrosive.

Recycle used oil, automotive fluids, batteries, household hazardous wastes and other
products. Don't dispose of hazardous products in toilets, storm drains, wastewater systems,
creeks, alleys, or the ground. This pollutes the water supply.

Private Septic Systems

As a part of the WHP Program, septic systems within the WHP areas were identified. Leachate
from an improperly maintained septic system has the potential to directly affect groundwater
used for our public water supply.

Abandoned, Active and Inactive Water Wells

The City of Aurora is attempting to identify active, inactive and abandoned wells within the
WHP areas. Damaged wells can become a direct conduit for surface contamination to reach the
underlying aquifer. We ask for your assistance in identifying abandoned or inactive wells on
your property. Please contact the Aurora Utilities at 812-926-2745 with relevant
information.

Water wells are abandoned if the original purpose and use of the well has been discontinued
for more than 5 years or if the well is in a state of disrepair. If the well was abandoned after
January 1, 1988, a licensed water well driller must be used to plug the well. The licensed
driller will complete a record of the abandonment and submit it to the Indiana Department of
Natural Resources (IDNR).

Natural Gas Utilities

History

The Gaff family (of Hillforest), as part owners of the Aurora Gas & Coke Company,
pioneered the use of manufactured gas for home and business lighting in 1860.

Street lighting was added in 1874, which was before Aurora had a water system, and gas was
manufactured at the site of the current Aurora Utilities Office at 110 Main Street.

Natural gas came into use in 1950 by a connection from Lawrenceburg along US 50 that in turn
was connected to the Texas Gas Pipeline. While not used for lighting, natural gas now serves as
a primary heating source for homes, businesses and manufacturing. With the deployment of plastic
pipe in the 1970's the city was able to build a safe and secure gas system in 1987.

Gas Leaks & Safety

Natural gas is odorless so odorants are added to allow someone to readily detect a gas leak.
Customers should know the location of all shut-off valves, appliances that use gas, or know the
landlord/custodian who would have this knowledge.

If you smell gas in a localized area near a gas appliance, check the pilot light. Most modern
automatic equipment, like water heaters and furnaces, have safety shut-offs to control the
escape of gas if the pilot light goes out, but some manual appliances do not. Know your
appliances and the instructions to operate them. If you can't detect the source of the leak
around an appliance use the safety shut-off and call a technician.

If the odor is strong and far-reaching of the source of the odor cannot be accounted for or
controlled, you have an emergency. Stay calm, call (812) 926-2745 during day hours or (812)
926-2557 during off hours and weekends. Open doors and windows to ventilate the building from a
gas build-up. If you hear gas escaping or are experiencing overwhelming odor "a house full of
gas" exit the building as quickly as possible without activating an ignition source. Ignition
sources can be matches, lighters, electrical switches, even static electricity. Electrical
sources can include flashlights, doorbells, and telephones.

Carbon Monoxide

The potenctial for carbon monoxide occurs with incomplete combustion when burning natural gas
in an appliance or heater. As you can't see, smell or hear it you might think you have the flu.
Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms are:

Headache

Dizziness

Sleepiness

Confusion

Nausea

Vomiting

Call 911 or your local fire department immediately if you suspect poisoning. A qualified
person should be secured to inspect and repair any suspected appliances.

System Damage

CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG, IT'S THE LAW.
They will issue you an I.D. number for your request as proof of your call.
IT'S FOR YOUR PROTECTION.

Compared to all other forms of energy, the delivery of gas by distribution piping is the
safest. When gas systems leak, natural gas will normally rise away from the surface and
dissipate. Trouble occurs, however, when gas migrates underground and into buildings, sewers and
duct systems. The majority of incidents are caused by line damage from construction and other
excavation activities.

Our company and other utilities have joined to provide locating services to anyone planning
to excavate in the vicinity of gas, electric, telephone, or any other buried utilities. For
public safety it is the law to locate underground utilities before you can begin excavation
activities.

THIS IS A FREE SERVICE. Participating utilities will send someone out to mark the underground
facilities if you call two days in advance.

Gas Rates

Water Utilities

Water Source & Contaminant Concerns

Where does our water come from?

Using three drilled wells, Aurora's water source is taken from the glacial deposits of sand
and gravel in the Ohio River Valley Aquifer. This water is of excellent quality and receive only
chlorine and flouride for dental health. As is typical of well water, it is considered hard
water and the choice of water softening is left to the users.

Do I need to take special precautions?

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general
population. Immuno-compromised people, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,
people who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other kinds of immune
system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These
people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPA has set
guidelines with appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other
microbial contaminants which are available from Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791.

Are there contaminants in my drinking water?

Drinking water, including bottled water may reasonably be expected to contain at least small
amounts of some contaminants. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the
ground, it dissolves naturally-occuring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, or
can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. The
presence of these contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk
or that it is not suitable for drinking. More information about contaminants and their
potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline
listed above.

Public Involvement

For more information about Aurora's drinking water, please call Randy Turner at (812)
926-2745, or if you wish to become involved with water decision-making, attend City Council
meetings on the first Monday of every month at 5:00 PM in the Aurora City Building.

Water Rates

Sewer Utilities

Combined Sewer Overflow

In Aurora, like many older cities, sewer pipes carry both wastewater (used water and sewage
that goes down the drain in homes and businesses) and stormwater (rain or snow that washes off
the streets and parking lots) to a sewage treatment plant. In many parts of Aurora, the mixed
wastewater and stormwater flow together in a single pipe. This is called a Combined Sewer
System.

The Combined Sewer System was built as Aurora grew during the early 1900's, as an economical
way to handle wastewater and stormwater. The advantage of this system is that most of the time
when rainfall is low to moderate, both the stormwater and wastewater go the the treatment plant
before being discharged into the Ohio River. However, if significant wet weather occurs, this
becomes a problem. Sewers can overflow, sending both wastewater and stormwater into the Ohio
River. This is called Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO).

CSO Warning signs are posted near areas where outfalls can occur. Public health recommends
that people and animals not go into water near these signs for 48 hours after heavy rain.

Reducing Effects of CSO's

Recycle used oil and fix oil leaks

Use less fertilizer on lawns

Avoid pesticides and herbicides

Compost yard trimmings

Sweep, don't hose the driveway and sidewalk

Pick up pet wastes and dispose of it properly

Wash your car on the lawn, not on the driveway

Don't litter

Sewer Rates

Trash Removal & Recycling

Trash Removal

Best Way Disposal is pleased to be your new service provider beginning January 2nd. All
garbage pick-ups for the City of Aurora will be on Wednesdays and all cans, waster wheelers, or
bags MUST be set out by Wednesday @ 2 am. Garbage may be placed in your own cans, waste wheelers,
or bags if that’s your preference; however you also have an option to rent a 96 gallon Best Way
Disposal cart on wheels at $3.00 per month for each cart billed directly to you every 3 months.
To rent a cart, please contact Best Way Disposal at 1-800-354-1830.

The Garbage Dilemma

The problem of how to manage solid waste around the country and in Dearborn County is a
plaguing issue. The State of Indiana has mandated that, due to shrinking landfill space all
Indiana counties must reduce their total output of trash. Many new rules and taxes have been
placed on Indiana fills and that reflects back on residents in the form of higher service
fees.

Recycling has been offered as a solution, and needs to be adopted by everyone in our growing
population. We must practice recycling and teach our children that their futures depend on
it.

Recycling Service

The City of Aurora offers drop-oof recycling service at the Utility Dept. Garage located at
the corner of Main and Importing St. This location is always open to anyone who needs recycling
service.

City Residents are offered curb-side pick-up on Mon., Wed., and Friday (excluding holidays)
at no charge with no item limit. To receive this type of service call 926-2745 one business day
before pick-up is scheduled to occur.